State Judges
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Old People, State Judges, Trials
Confessions of a 64-Year-Old Rookie Trial Judge
Judge Ann Pfau was, until recently, the chief administrative judge for the state of New York. But late last year, after massive budget cuts, the lifelong bureaucrat ended up as a trial judge, “in the gray courthouse that hulks next to Brooklyn Borough Hall like some weird tribute to bleak Soviet architecture." Talk about an unexpected career move… -
Guns / Firearms, Judge of the Day, Rank Stupidity, Rape, State Judges, State Judges Are Clowns
Ex-Judge of the Day: Yes, Flashing Your Piece in Court Is a 'Poor Rhetorical Point'
Last week, a now ex-judge in Georgia pulled out a handgun during a bond hearing, pretended to hand it to an alleged rape victim who was testifying, and said she was “killing her case” and “might as well shoot” her lawyer. What? - Sponsored
Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
The rise of remote work has dramatically reshaped the relationship between Lawyers and Law Firms, see how Scale LLP has taken the steps to get… -
Crime, Eugene Volokh, Free Speech, Reader Polls, Religion, State Judges, State Judges Are Clowns, Violence
The 'Zombie Mohammed' Judge: Let's Discuss
A Pennsylvania judge dismissed a harassment charge against a Muslim man who allegedly attacked an atheist dressed up as "Zombie Mohammed." Since then, everyone has been talking about and arguing over this case. What do you make of it?
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Crime, Jury Duty, State Judges, Trials
Elie Draws Jury Duty: Day Two -- Why Doesn't Anything Happen?
For my entire life, Republicans have been telling me government doesn’t work. It’s not true, government works just fine: taxes get collected, snow gets removed, communism gets toppled. Government works, it’s just extremely inefficient. It’s bureaucratic. It’s unable to effectively deal with exceptions. It wastes time. The waste of time is an unforgivable sin to […] -
Biglaw, Canada, Cars, Guns / Firearms, Kids, Law Schools, Non-Sequiturs, State Judges, State Judges Are Clowns, Twittering
Non-Sequiturs: 02.23.12
* Apparently attorneys at a “prestigious firm” in Washington, D.C. are fans of hobo hunting. What the hell does that mean? Well, there’s an app for that (one that Apple has rejected three times for its outrageous offensiveness). [VICE] * “I want to (blank) Michelle Bachmann in her (blank) with a Vietnam era machete.” First […] -
Crime, Jury Duty, New York Times, State Judges, Television, Trials
Elie Draws Jury Duty: Day One -- Voir Dire
Elie Mystal has successfully avoided jury duty since he moved back to New York in 2003, but this week they finally caught up with him. This week, he had to perform his civic responsibility of sitting in judgment of his peers (like he doesn't do that enough already). Today he got an up-close look at the voir dire process in a criminal trial. While he was not picked, he feels like his McMurphy-esque fingerprints will be all over the case. -
Abortion, BU Law, Quote of the Day, Religion, State Judges
Quote of the Day: This... Is American Jurisprudence!
Being a judge is not like being a contestant on “American Idol.” You are not looking for votes. — Former Judge Christina Harms, commenting on the need for judicial independence in the court system. Harms recently came under fire after ordering that a schizophrenic woman have an abortion and be sterilized. Controversy arose when the […] -
Money, Old People, Quote of the Day, State Judges
Quote of the Day: Lateral Moves Are Probably Harder When You Need a Walker
If I were not a judge, I wouldn’t be doing anything. What would I be doing if I were not a judge? What am I even qualified to do? I’ve been a judge for 44 years. My father was a butcher. I’m not trained to be a butcher. — Judge Allen Beldock, explaining why he […] - Sponsored
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
ChatGPT ushers in the age of generative AI – even for law firms. -
Baseball, Quote of the Day, Sports, State Judges
Quote of the Day: By the Way, the Cubs Have Not Won the World Series in 100 Years, Either
Fricano asserts that the Cleveland Indians are “the arch rival” of the Chicago White Sox. While the two teams maintain a healthy rivalry, this court notes that it is generally accepted, at least among informed baseball followers, that the title of arch rival belongs to the reviled Minnesota Twins, to be shared, during inter-league play, […] -
New Orleans, Politics, Pro Bono, Public Interest, State Judges, State Judges Are Clowns
Judge Orders Random Lawyers To Defend Poor People
There is a judge in New Orleans who doesn't want poor people to just go away. There is a judge in New Orleans who wants the larger community to not only see but also defend poor people who appear in his court. He hopes that if some prominent people have to get some skin in the game, maybe they won't be so eager to cut essential legal services to indigent defendants.... -
Drugs, Marijuana, Police, State Judges, State Judges Are Clowns, Texas
Up in Smoke: Texas Judge Busted for Alleged Pot Possession
Being a judge is hard work. So hard, in fact, that sometimes these distinguished members of society go out in search of more plebeian ways to relax. Some judges, for example, are apparent aficionados of the classic gateway drug -- marijuana. One judge in Texas was recently arrested for allegedly smoking two joints before he smoked two joints, and then smoking two more.... -
Benchslaps, Drugs, State Judges
Benchslap of the Day: Cornhusker Judge Shucks Druggie Defendant
We have come across a recent Midwestern state court opinion that reads more like Hunter Thompson than Learned Hand. It doesn't hurt the metaphor that the defendant, convicted of multiple theft charges, is also a long-term abuser of methamphetamine, marijuana, and alcohol. We would call this a benchslap, but that might be too nice a word.... -
Courthouses, Nauseating Things, State Judges
The Race to the Courthouse (Bathroom)
In the past week or two, our bathroom coverage has exploded. We've written about a law firm and a law school experiencing toilet shortages, a law school that has a sense of humor when selling naming rights to its bathrooms, and a law firm that wants its employees to follow proper restroom etiquette. If you're tired of the toilet humor, stop here. But if you want to see a funny sign from a courthouse bathroom, keep reading....
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Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
The rise of remote work has dramatically reshaped the relationship between Lawyers and Law Firms, see how Scale LLP has taken the steps to get…
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The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
ChatGPT ushers in the age of generative AI – even for law firms.
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Early Adopters Of Legal AI Gaining Competitive Edge In Marketplace
How to best leverage generative AI as an early adopter with ethical use.
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Quote of the Day, Real Estate, State Judges, State Judges Are Clowns
Quote of the Day: I Like to Throw a Dollar on the Floor Attached to a String and Watch Them Chase It
It’s the best chambers in the state. Believe me, I know. I’ve seen them all. — Judge A. Gail Prudenti commenting to the New York Times about pleasing chambers afforded to the Brooklyn Presiding Judge. Prudenti was recently promoted to Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts of New York State, creating a vacancy for the […] -
Jury Duty, Rudeness, State Judges, Trials
A Sign That You Should Always Show Up for Jury Duty
Even though serving on a jury is considered an important civic duty, people in this country seem to loathe the mere idea of being forced to do it. And even though jury duty is something that is required by law, instead of just doing it, people would rather make jokes about others being too dumb to get out of it. One judge in Indiana is well aware of that fact, and he's on a mission to get people to serve willingly, lest they be forced to face some embarrassing consequences.... -
Career Alternatives, Fabulosity, Federal Judges, Music, State Judges
Behind the Music, Behind the Bench: Meet Judge Jay Stewart
Wielding power and oozing prestige, judges can be thought of as “rock stars of the law.” But some judges are, in a more literal sense, rock stars. Several judges around the country possess impressive musical talents. For example, as we mentioned earlier this month, Judge Randall R. Rader recently rocked out at San Diego’s House […] -
Biglaw, Kasowitz Benson, Labor / Employment, Lawsuit of the Day, Litigators, Pro Se Litigants, Ridiculousness, Rudeness, State Judges
Berry v. Kasowitz Benson: Superior Legal Mind Fails to Conquer
It appears that Gregory Berry's "superior legal mind" failed to impress Justice Eileen Bransten of New York Supreme Court. Ruling from the bench, she dismissed his entire case, with prejudice. But that's not all. Her Honor was displeased when Berry walked out of her courtroom before the hearing was over, while she was still putting her ruling on the record.... -
Facebook, Legal Ethics, State Judges, Technology
If You Are a Judge, Do Your Facebook Friends Matter?
It seems there is an interesting emerging trend in litigation these days: When a ruling doesn’t go your way, just make an appeal alleging judicial conflict of interest. Same-sex marriage opponents wanted California judge Vaughn Walker to recuse himself from Prop. 8 hearings because he is gay. If and when the Supreme Court decides to […] -
Email Scandals, Law Professors, Lawyer of the Day, Reader Polls, State Judges, State Judges Are Clowns
Lawyer of the Month: November Reader Poll
November is typically a month where people give thanks for all of the good things in their lives. The vast majority of the scandalous lawyers featured in these pages seem to have forgotten about that small fact. They just don’t give a damn. Family ties? Meh. The troops? Screw ’em. Honorific ATL titles? Totally lame. […] -
Kids, State Judges, State Judges Are Clowns, Texas, Videos, Violence, YouTube
An Update on Judge William Adams (of Daughter-Beating YouTube Fame)
Earlier this month, a video showing Judge William Adams of Texas beating his disabled daughter went viral. Judge Adams didn't try to deny what he did (which would have been tough, given the video); instead, he defended his actions. Did the Texas Supreme Court find Judge Adams's advocacy persuasive?